Page 31 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

Going to Iraq on Op TELIC
you can’t take the benefits because you’re always busy working”) and working with the best personnel across all three services.
Paul was the only ‘med’ there but made friends for life. He was tasked with looking after Sierra Leone and travelled extensively around that country, also going to Israel, the Gaza Strip and Lebanon – “Again, join the army see the world.”
Being Chief Nursing Officer may be his biggest career challenge, although Paul says, “It’s actually a real privilege. I’d been out of proper nursing for 12 or 13 years, looking after nurses, being interested in nursing, still qualified, still registered, but not physically doing nursing. So, to be the Chief Nurse, to be able to do it well and understand it, was a real challenge to get up to speed. I’m so lucky that I’ve got Maggie Hodge as SO1 Nursing, her knowledge is brilliant. Carol Kefford and (Col Cmdt) Kevin Davis have been worth their weight in gold, and as have before the other single-Service Chief Nurses.”
Project Victoria could see the three human healthcare corps for nursing amalgamated, bringing changes. This may or may not come to pass, depending on what the new Government decides to do. Paul is reassuring that for nurses, little will change in day-to-day. “At the heart of it, nursing will endure. It’s the same as a footballer going from Southampton to Nottingham Forest, the only thing that has changed is you just wearing the different club colours.”
Thankfully none of these discussions have prevented the QARANC celebrating its 75th anniversary with events throughout the year. We’ve had the dinner in Edinburgh, and the study period, followed by Hampton Court Palace, which was, a resounding success in marking the anniversary with the proper pomp and circumstance and splendour.
“It is an honour to be here in the 75th year and to be able to influence what we do. I’ve had support of some brilliant people – the team that organised Hampton Court Palace, Katie Hildred and Miss Olive were brilliant, Alison Cripps, and the work that she’s done. Chief Nursing Officer is just the conductor, isn’t it? The people who make the music make the magic happen are the ones who deserve all the credit. Sgt Major Debs Hamilton has been an absolute driving force throughout my time in this role, she should get a really big thanks.”
Paul has also enjoyed attending the graduations and how well all present themselves. This gives him “a lot of positivity for the future” that nursing and the
It is a big thing to know that, if I fall on hard times, there’s somebody
I can reach out to
that will understand what I’ve been through
Going to Iraq on Op TELIC
army are in a strong position going forwards. “The quality of nursing we have in the reserves as well, it’s just amazing,” he adds.
To be President of the QARANC Association is also a great honour for Paul. The support it gives, whether to the needy and the benevolent side of things, to helping QAs to access to sport or adventure training opportunities, is inspiring. Paul is also grateful to Chairman John Quinn and Vice Chair Merrill Bate, and the Trustees, all of whom contribute their own time to benefit others.
He adds, “It is a big thing to know that, if I fall on hard times, there’s somebody I can reach out to that will understand what I’ve been through and what my needs might be, someone who is there to support me.”
What will Paul do after retirement? “I’m not going to do a lot to start with,” he admits. “I think I owe my wife Nicola my time and my four-year-old Autumn, I want to be there to pick her up from school. Then I’ll look at what’s available, perhaps go back in nursing, I’ve not given it a lot of thought.”
Paul, who now lives in York, has two older children from a first marriage, Emily, 27, and George, 25, who he also hopes to see more of. He’s been advised by retired colleagues to take his time and work out what comes next. Perhaps the property maintenance skills he’s learning may even feature.
Reflecting on his life in the Army, Paul says: “I would never have dreamed of finishing as a full colonel, let alone as Chief Nursing Officer. If you had put a tenner on me doing it when I was a Lance Corporal or when I was at Haslar, you’d probably expect to become a millionaire, the odds of it happening. Looking back, I feel so incredibly lucky and the privileged to have had the experiences I’ve had. I feel incredibly honoured.”
Col Paul was speaking to Steve Bax
The Gazette QARANC Association 31
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